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Throughout the Challenge we will track the progress of people just like you that have heard the call to become healthier.  Our first blogger is Terry Baker, Information Services Manager at Clarian North Medical Center. Terry has been on a weight loss journey for more than a year, but is finding himself struggling to take of those last few pounds.

02/15/08

One thing I need to remember is to drink enough water. Note of disclosure: I am not a doctor, nutritionist or any other clinical profession, so you may want to consult whoever you feel appropriate before taking my advice.

Having said that, it has been constantly re-enforced to me how important it is to keep hydrated. It might be hard to believe in this land of plenty, but it has been said that most of us are in a constant state of dehydration. I have read that our sense of thirst is so underdeveloped that we often mistake it for hunger.

One rule of thumb that we have been told is that we should drink eight, eight-ounce glasses (for a total of 64 ounces) per day. But is unreasonable to think that what is good for a 110 pound woman is good for a 240 pound man.
 
Recent thoughts on the subject are that you need one ounce for every two pounds you weigh. So the 110 pound woman needs 55 ounces and the 240 pound man would need 120 ounces. WOW!

Again, this needs to be viewed as a rule of thumb, as the person working outside in the heat all day may need even more to offset their loss. Another debate is whether fluids other that water can be counted in that total. Some people say yes, but we all know that water is going to be better for us in the long run than drinks with ingredients like Phosphoric Acid, Phenylketonurics and Aspartame.

Now don’t go nuts, there is a point of diminishing return here. The guidelines above are based on a fairly even intake of water over the course of the 16 or so hours a day you are awake. You can actually hurt yourself if you go crazy and try to drink a ton of water in a short period of time.

Well, off I go to the water cooler!

Until we talk again,
Terry


01/17/08

Hello everyone,

The holidays are behind us and a new year has begun. I am very excited to once again be on a team and look forward to being reenergized by the Carmel Mayor’s Wellness Challenge!

Now at the top of the second Challenge, all I can say is "boy,do I need it!"  I enter this year’s challenge differently than last year. Last year I was at the peak of my motivation and riding high on 10 months of success that had yielded a loss of approximately 75 pounds. I was pretty sure that I had it all figured out.

While I have continued to work out over the last year, and participated in various organized fitness activities, including two sprint distance triathlons, things have gotten a bit tougher. In the last year I have only lost about another five pounds or so. However, I do believe that my body composition and muscle-to-fat ratio is still  improving.

One of the challenges is that as you get closer to your ideal weight, it gets tougher. The other challenge is that life can get in the way. Busy schedules can make the drive through seem like a decent choice and provide excuses to why workouts can be skipped or shortened.

We need to remember the old adage that I have come to really believe in the last two years, “You are nothing without your health." How much time and money do you spend maintaining your car or home? Those are mere trinkets compared to your body, so treat it right.

Soon I believe you will start seeing video clips regarding how I am approaching this year’s challenge. (Remember:  I am not an actor, so be kind.) I look forward to seeing you in the gym, on the road and at the salad bar!

Terry